This past month has been a bit of a whirlwind. I have gone through a lot of emotional ups and downs. My faith has been tested, finances were a bit shaky, I lost a friend, I questioned myself as to who I am and who I am suppose to be and so much more. Through it all, I was able to keep my sanity and pray. Some may say that they have been through worst and I just experienced the normal things of life, and that maybe true. But regardless of the trial, whether it be big or small, I still see it as a test. One thing that some tend to forget is that we will be tested in life with many trials, but it is how we handle the pressure that will determine our outcomes. This experience has given me the opportunity to get closer to God. To seek his guidance in all situations that came my way. One thing that I know is that it is so hard to talk to God when you are going through the toughest times in life. But it is during those times when you need Him the most. God allows some things to happen in our lives because he is trying to get our attention. We get so distracted by what's around us, that we never take the time to appreciate the little things. I believe that when we are hit with a trial, it's a humbling experience, at least it is for me anyway. This past month has given me the chance to ask God what is it that I am not doing, or what do I need to focus my attention to, because I knew that he was trying to get my attention. Once I realized what it was, I was able to view my circumstances differently. I get it now, some situations that appear hard to handle, are really quite simple. I just have to take a different approach to each situation and understand that God really would not put more on me than I can bear. It's funny how I heard that saying all of my life, but did not really understand it until now. God would not put more on me than I can bear! I used to think that this meant that God will not allow me to go through hard times, but I now understand that if I am going through something, then I must be able to bear it, otherwise God would not allow me to go through it. This is just my interpretation and so far my understanding has helped me look at each situation as just another stepping stone to get me where I am supposed to be.
In the book, Beyond the Pews, by Amy Ekwegh, you will feel compelled, convicted, motivated and remorseful. It takes the reader from a place of contentment and allows one to have a self-check on where he/she stand in the church ministry. From start to finish, I saw myself in each scenario mentioned in this book. Beyond the Pews is an easy and quick read. Once you start, you will not want to put the book down and can be read in a day. Ekwegh used biblical reference to prove the Christian's purpose goes beyond attending a church service. I do feel that there were some parts where the book became redundant. There were many mentions of “not leaning on others and having the will to go into prayer for yourself” and “having the faith to continue the Christian walk”. It would have been nice to see a chapter on Prayer and one on Faith to sum up those thoughts. For this reason, I would rate the book a 3 out of 5. No matter your position in the church, you will feel motivated to do more for th...
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